'American Idol' narrows Hollywood Week contestants to 100 hopefuls

American Idol's tenth-season dream ended for 68 additional Hollywood Week hopefuls during last night's Fox broadcast of the week's second elimination round.

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A hundred contestants survived the week's group performance round, which required the 168 tenth-season hopefuls that survived the week's initial individual performance round to organize themselves into small groups and do a group performance for American Idol judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson.

After they performed, the contestants were then individually cut or advanced to the week's third performance round.

Several of the newly-formed groups advanced en masse, including a trio which featured Pia Toscano, a 22-year-old makeup artist from Howard Beach, NY; Alessandra Guercio, a 15-year-old student from Brooklyn, NY; and Brielle Von Hugel, a 16-year-old student from Staten Island, NY, and a quartet that included Scotty McCreery, a 17-year-old student from Garner, NC; Monique De Los Santos, a 22-year-old student from Seattle, WA; Frances Coontz, a 16-year-old student from Santa Ana, CA; and Clint Jun Gamboa, a 26-year-old karaoke bar host from Long Beach, CA.

In addition, a quintet containing Denise Jackson, a 20-year-old student from Mazomanie, WI; Stevie Cain, a 20-year-old florist and photographer from Jackson, MS; Natalie Hanson, a 20-year-old waitress from Shreveport, LA; Brett Loewenstern, a 16-year-old student from Boca Raton, FL; and Jacee Badeaux, a 15-year-old student LaFayette, LA, was also shown advancing in its entirety.

However the judges seemed to save their best praise for a teenage quintet that featured Keonna Evans, a 16-year-old student from Los Angeles, CA; Jalen Harris, a 15-year-old student from Memphis, TN; Sarina-Joi Crowe, a 15-year-old student from Columbia, TN; Felix Ramsey, a 15-year-old student from Milwaukee, WI; Deandre Brackensick, a 16-year-old student from San Jose, CA.

"Wow! They just gave the performance of their lives!" Lopez gushed after the judges gave a standing ovation to the young teens' performance of Queen's "We Are The Champions."

"Crazy!" Jackson said.

"I've got to tell you, this is why I joined forces with American Idol to hear. That was as good as it gets -- Freddie Mercury is up there smiling down at you guys," Tyler added before the judges advanced all five teens to the next round.

Three other quartets that included Jordan Dorsey, a 21-year-old piano teacher from LaPlace, LA; Robbie Rosen, a 16-year-old student from Merrick, NY; Adrian Michael, a 19-year-old server from Pearland, TX; Lauren Turner, a 24-year-old maid from Covington, LA; Keeira Lyn Ford, a 26-year-old demo singer and babysitter from Antioch, TN; Ashley Sullivan, a 26-year-old retail salesperson from Springfield, MA; and Ashthon Jones, a 24-year-old retail manager from Goodlettsville, TN, among their members were also shown advancing.

In addition, a quintet that included Da'Quela Payne, a 29-year-old Internet manager from Milwaukee, WI; Matthew Nuss, a 25-year-old music director from Huntington Beach, CA; Naima Adedapo, a 25-year-old grounds cleanup worker from Milwaukee, WI; and Jacob Lusk, a 23-year-old spa concierge from Compton, CA also advanced in its entirety.

Many other contestants also managed to advance despite the axing of one or more of their brief groupmates, including Jovany Barreto, a 23-year-old ship builder from Harvey, LA; Karen Rodriguez, a 21-year-old student from New York, NY; Lauren Alaina, a 15-year-old student from Rossville, GA; Colton Dixon, a 19-year-old student from Murfreesboro, TN; James Durbin, an unemployed 21-year-old from Santa Cruz, CA; Caleb Johnson, a 19-year-old banquet server from Asheville, NC; Corey Levoy, a 22-year-old nursing assistant from Longview, TX; and Hollie Cavanagh, a 17-year-old student from McKinney, TX

In addition, Julie Zorrilla, a 20-year-old student from Los Angeles, CA; Casey Abrams, a 19-year-old film camp worker from Idyllwild, CA; Caleb Hawley, a 25-year-old musician from New York, NY; Chris Medina, a 27-year-old barista and caretaker from Oak Forest, IL; Carson Higgins, a 22-year-old actor from Malibu, CA; Chelsee Oaks, a 23-year-old waitress from Nashville, TN; and Jacqueline Dunford, a 22-year-old receptionist from Scottsdale, AZ were also shown advancing despite the elimination of one or more groupmates.

Several contestants which American Idol's broadcasts had previously spotlighted failed to survive the second round's cuts, including Tiffany Rios, a 21-year-old dance instructor from Morris Plains, NJ; Paris Tassin, a 23-year-old medical assistant from New Orleans, LA; Matt Dillard, an unemployed 27-year-old from Cheatham County, TN; Devyn Rush, a 20-year-old singing waitress from New Hope, PA; and Rob Bolin, a 23-year-old restaurant worker from Nashville, TN.

In addition, more than a dozen other hopefuls were shown having their Idol dream end: Jessica Yantz, a 28-year-old from Nashville, TN; Kevin Campos, a 24-year-old singer from North Hollywood, CA; Jorge Gabriel, a 17-year-old student from West Palm Beach, FL; Shannon Livewell, a 17-year-old student from Debtford, NJ; Briana Tyson, a 17-year-old songwriter from Brentwood, TN; Janelle Arthur, a 20-year-old musician from Oliver Springs, TN; Alyson Jados, a 26-year-old bartender and waitress from Chicago, IL; Caitlin Koch, a 21-year-old singer from Orchard Park, NY; Emma Henry, a 16-year-old student from Littleton, CO; Danny Pate, a 23-year-old citrus farm worker from Auburndale, FL; John Jordan, a 20-year-old waiter and entertainer from St. Cloud, FL; Steven Clawson, a 28-year-old musician from Thomasville, GA; Dan Noguchi, a 21-year-old student from Los Angeles, CA; Lara Johnston, a 20-year-old student from Novato, CA; and Melissa Lucas, a 22-year-old lounge singer from Bakersfield, CA.

American Idol's coverage of the tenth season's Hollywood Week rounds will continue with Thursday night's broadcast of the week's third round performances.

(Photo credit Fox)

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